JULIAN Gray today revealed that he was trying to adapt his natural game to help Blues scrap their way out of trouble.

JULIAN Gray today revealed that he was trying to adapt his natural game to help Blues scrap their way out of trouble.

The winger or left-back has not figured at St Andrew's after Blues fell to West Ham United on December 5.

Manager Steve Bruce elected a more abrasive line-up against Fulham five days later and dropped Gray.

Gray received widespread criticism for not chasing a ball down near the byline during the Hammers loss. Anton Ferdinand came across and shephered it out of play as Gray drew back from making a challenge.

Bruce gave him a dressing down in private and fans began to question Gray's desire.

But appearances can be deceptive, Gray said, and he has bounced back by producing two competitive performances, at Spurs and at Chelsea, brimming with purpose.

"I didn't play for a while and I was hungry to get back in there and prove what I can do," said Gray, who missed the Manchester United game at St Andrew's because of an ankle injury.

"The manager made his decision and people were saying things about me which I just had to take on the chin.

"People have their opinion of me, they say what they want. But I know I'm committed and that I'm desperate to help us get out of trouble."

Asked about the West Ham incident, Gray said: "That's not my strength, you know. When I'm not doing what I'm supposed to be doing then people can have a go at me.

"Yes, I have got to get stuck in more and I'm trying to do that. That's not my natural game, but I'm trying to do that because of the position we are in.

"At the end of the day, people have to understand that I am a different kind of player to others.

"Just because I may not do certain things as well as others, it doesn't mean I don't care or that I'm not committed to the cause - I am."

At Stamford Bridge on New Year's Eve Gray showed that he was certainly no shirker.

He raced back to dispossess Hernan Crespo after he and Joe Cole delayed when clear on Maik Taylor.

And in the second-half he headed away one high, hanging ball despite knowing that Didier Drogba was about to clatter him - which the muscular substitute duly did.

Gray shrugged: "I was just doing my job. Like I said, I go about it the best way I can."

As Jamie Clapham (knee) got injured against United, Gray and Stan Lazaridis - who should be available today after sickness - are set to be competing for places down the left, along with Marcos Painter and occasionally David Dunn.

Gray's touch, running power and athleticism definitely make Blues more dynamic in attack.

But whoever Bruce selects, it's all about results from now on in as Blues begin a critical phase of the campaign.

Gray said: "We've got to take every game as it comes and get as many victories as we can. We can't look too far ahead.

"We have to take spirit from our performances over the Christmas period and if we keep creating the chances we are creating, we are going to get a few goals."

Blues were expected to lose on Saturday and Gray accepted that the Champions are such a well-drilled machine.

"I thought we started the game quite well, we had a couple of chances, and then unfortunately they got a goal. From then on, it was hard because they don't really concede that many.

"Even so, we still tried to get at them and take the game to them, that's what you've got to try to do against Chelsea."

Bruce altered the shape of the midfield to counter Chelsea, but it was to no avail.

"We went three against three in there, man for man to try to stop them playing. I thought we did that well," Gray said.